Tucson City Council urged to act against affordable housing crisis | Subscriber

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Between May and November of this year, the agency’s helpline received almost 2,000 inquiries about affordable housing, eviction assistance, rent and mortgage assistance.

Older adults generally don’t lose jobs or face other income-related issues due to COVID-19, Clark said, so they don’t qualify for some of the other aids currently available.

In addition, he said, seniors living on steady low incomes “lack the resources to pay moving expenses and security deposits, and may lack the physical strength and mobility to pack and move their belongings”.

The Pima Council on Aging can help some callers with relocation arrangements and other resources for these one-time costs. However, Clark said “systemic solutions are needed”.

One idea so far: In 2022, PCOA plans to start a home-sharing program with funds from the City of Tucson and Pima County that will make space in their homes available to older adults to share with tenants who need affordable housing.

“Get the landlord out of the wood”

Morales came to town two years ago after serving four years as the home construction director in Mesa and prior to that, overseeing Housing Division 8 in Phoenix for six years.

When she arrived, one of her first goals was to get payments on time to landlords taking coupons for Section 8. The city makes this part of the rent available to the landlord on behalf of the voucher holder.

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